Skeeters’ Gary Gaetti embraces role of players’ manager

Gary Gaetti has learned plenty from his failures — be it ones made as a major league player to those in his first two seasons as manager of the Sugar Land Skeeters.

“Failure can determine what kind of person you’re going to be. I’ve learned a lot from my failures — and I’ve failed a lot,” Gaetti said. “I know how to keep these guys focused — one pitch, one play, one inning, one game — at a time. That’s just what I try to do. I try to have them keep a perspective of the game and who these people are and what we’re doing.”

That’s important for a team like the Skeeters, a mix of players trying to find their place in the independent Atlantic League, as they open their third season Thursday night against the Lancaster Barnstormers at Constellation Field.

Gaetti is frequently called a “players’ manager” by his players because of his calm attitude.

“I try to put them in a position where they’re going to be successful. I would consider myself a player’s manager,” said Gaetti, who went from 64-76 in his first season to 95-45 and the playoffs in his second. “I let them be players. I’m playing to win, not playing to develop. I let them be men. It’s just baseball. That’s how I learned to play.”

Professionalism aplenty

Most of the Skeeters have spent time in the big leagues, and Gaetti said he enjoys their professionalism, which he believes aided last season’s success. He also said the Skeeters are every bit as talented as Class AAA or MLB players but have just slipped through the cracks.

“We had an excellent team last year. It was an exceptional group with excellent team spirit,” Gaetti said.” I see this year as a definite chance to get back (to the playoffs) and (win a title). (Our players) haven’t given up yet on the dream of making it.”

Righthanded pitcher Clay Hensley said Gaetti is a “good leader for this ballclub and a great manager to play for.”

Catcher Koby Clemens, returning for his second season after leading the Skeeters with 21 home runs, attests to Gaetti’s formula of success.

“He’s a player’s manager who will go to war for you,” said Clemens, a former Astros farmhand and the son of legendary major leaguer Roger Clemens. “He lets us play and trusts us as players, which I really respect. He’s always there for us, and I’m lucky to have him as a manager.”

Playing their game

Righthanded reliever Gary Majewski, a former St. Pius High School standout who played in the big leagues for six seasons and is returning for his third with the Skeeters, is one of the veterans at Gaetti’s disposal. Majewski, who led the pitching staff with 62 appearances last season, said he appreciates Gaetti’s knowledge of putting the players where they need to be in order to have success.

“He lets us play our game,” Majewski said. “We have a lot of professionals on the team who know how to carry themselves and guys who have been to the big leagues. He just lets us go at it.”
It’ll be a tough task to top, or repeat, last season’s success. For Gaetti, he just enjoys taking it all in and is still learning as a manager.

“I love what I’m doing,” said Gaetti, a two-time major league All-Star who won a World Series with the Minnesota Twins in 1987. “I’m gaining experience, and someone would have to give me a nice offer in order to leave. This setting has allowed me to ease in what I really like to do.”